Perspective: VA moves forward on veterans' mental health issues

Thursday

Jul 12, 2012 at 12:03 AM

The following editorial appeared Tuesday in Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers.

Earlier this year, the Veterans Administration's inspector general issued a scathing report contradicting claims by the Veterans Health Administration, which oversees medical care for the VA, that 95 percent of new patients seeking mental health treatment were receiving comprehensive evaluations within 14 days.

According to the report, though, fewer than half of those seeking care got evaluations within that time frame and the remainder had to wait an average 50 days.

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, Fla., who has been a leading advocate in support of prompt mental health care for the nation's service personnel needing that care, said, "When our troops come home, we need to do everything we can to make sure they get the health care - including mental health care - they need and deserve. ... Prompt evaluation and treatment can mean the difference between life and death."

In response to concerns about a shortage of mental health professionals to handle the unprecedented need for mental health care resulting from extended and multiple tours for those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the VA announced even before the inspector general's report, that it planned to add 1,600 mental health clinicians and 300 support personnel to help deal with the mental health needs of the 1.3 million veterans it treats annually.

More recently, the VA announced it planned to hire 40 mental health clinicians and eight support personnel within in the next six to 12 months to be assigned to its West Palm Beach Medical Center, with about a quarter of them being assigned to outpatient clinics in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.

Dr. Alberto Fernandez-Milo, chief of mental health services at the West Palm Beach VA hospital said, "We decided we would see everybody (seeking mental health care) within two weeks," which is what the agency had claimed erroneously it was already doing.

Ed Maxwell, vice president of the Martin County chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America, said, "The staff on mental health has been way too thin. It needs to be beefed up because we're going to be bringing the troops back."

Estimates vary on the number of returning veterans in need of mental health evaluations and treatment, from as low as 20 percent to as many as 60 percent.

The VA is taking a step in the right direction by increasing its mental health staff nationally and on the Treasure Coast. But, the need may be even greater than the additional personnel can meet if all those in need actually seek help. There remains a degree of stigma among military personnel in recognizing mental health problems and getting treatment. But, without the necessary care, those personnel can be a danger to themselves, their families and others.

Not only must the VA provide the personnel and treatment required, it must encourage veterans to take advantage of the help available.

"Some of them need a little shove," said Jim Cady, commander of an American Legion post in Fort Pierce.

The VA seems to recognize that reality and plans to improve publicizing of its services and hiring some personnel to train others in recognizing potential mental health issues among veterans.

If the VA does as it says it plans to do, the remaining link in addressing the problem is the veterans themselves. They must recognize they need help and have the encouragement and support to overcome some of the wounds service to their nation has caused.

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